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NO EARLY RACING FOR NEW YORK. First Meeting of Season Probably Will Be at Saratoga if Legislature Affords Suggested Relief. New York, April 3. August Belmont is authority for the announcement that even In tne event of the passage of the legislation looking to the wiping out of the so-called directors liability law, proposed by Assemblyman .Martin and Senator Bracken, of -Saratoga county, it will be impossible for the race tracks of New York to hold spring meetings. Mr. Belmont made this announcement in a. talk with newspaper reporters at his office In Nassau street. "Tne managers of the race tracks feel in duty 1 bound to give u clear expression of their intentions with respect to what they intend to do in event that amendments proposed at Albany are enacted into law," he said. "We could not, if we had the best of laws, get ready to race In a mouths time, and there is a deal of uncertainty Involved In legislative processes. Horsemen cannot afford to keep waiting for something they may not get. The horsemen must take their charges to places where they have at least a chance to earn their keep. And once they are scattered they cannot lie reassembled in a day or so." Mr. Belmont said emphatically that neither the Jockey Club nor the racing associations had anything to do with the measures proposed by Assemblyman Martin and Senator Brackett. What he knew of those measuies he said came from the newspapers and the newspapers seemed to think that they were the result of practically a unanimous up-State demand for remedial legislation. Mr. Belmont dictated the following statement concerning the matter: "1 have not examined the Martin 1111 as yet. Th? racing associations had nothing to do with its introduction. 1 understand that pressure for it comes from the state and county fair associations, whose managers and directors are likewise unwilling to expose themselves to either prosecution or persecution under the present laws provisions." Ever since it was announced that the big tracks would not apply for dates, because of the liability law, the up-State racing interests have come to realize that they are in the same boat. The reformers,, too, have made it plain that they intend to force the prosecution of fair directors in all parts of the state, and in some cases county authorities have been warned that they must enforce the law. In other words, the liability law which has compelled the big race -tracks to remain closed, has proved a boomerang among- the farmers, who, it is argued, did not come to the assistance of the Jockey Club when the sport of racing was first threatened in 190S. Tils farmers never had an idea that their own interests would bo interfered with by adverse legislation, it is said, but they are now up in amis over the possibility that their state fairs be ruined. A state fair without trotting, pacing or running races is not a magnet for big crowds. With tluse attractions in past years some of the fairs have drawn as many as 25,000 persons each day. There is no attempt to deny that betting has gone on or that in future horses will be backed just the same. The farmers know thnt. racing without betting cannot thrive and that the lairs without races lire com-uarntively unattractive. That is the slogan up the state as set forth by Assemblyman Martin. In the event the legislation proiwsed by Assemblyman Martin is written into the laws of the stall", it Is considered likely that racing will be resumed at Saratoga in August with a meeting of thirty days or more. It would be an easy matter to get the Saratoga plant, which is compact and less extensive than the plants at Sliccpsliead Bay and Gravesend. ready for racing, and the up-state track has so long been a late summer gathering-place for horses that no great difficulty would bo found in assembling a sufficient number of horses of all ages to make up a series of first-class programs for Saratoga. It may be that racing will get further relief from court cases that are pending and in which decisions are expected during the summer. It is confidently expected that the decisions will be favorable to the sport. Albany, N. Y.. April 3. In explaining the merits of his bill relieving the officers and directors Of racing associations of responsibility for wagers made within their enclosures. Assemblyman William M. .Martin of Saratoga says that the county fairs throughout the state of New York are in danger of being closed. Mr. Martin, in a statement, says that .he knows the bill affords refief to the Jockey Clubs tracks, but he considers their welfare to be of secondary importance. lie declares that the farmers of Saratoga county and all over the state are aroused by the feet that directors of fair associations are resigning or are unwilling to run the risk of prosecution under the provisions of the liability law. Mr. .Martin also states that citizens of Saratoga want the usual ract-meeting at the Springs, which has been abandoned for the present by President R. T. Wilson :and Ids associates in the management of the Saratoga track. The State Grange is behind him. says the Saratoga Assemblyman, and so are nearly one hundred fair associations representing various interests, tntil the liability law is amended or repealed Mr. Martin insists that every fair association in the state, including Syracuse, will be forced to abandon races or suspend operations entirely. He argues that no citizen of repute would take a chance as a director of a fair association under the present law. for the reason to put up a job would be an easv task. Dr. Miller, of the New York Civic League, has aroused the farmers throughout the state to action by his threat to see that the law is enforced at the fair meetings, and the State Grange has takeu the matter up. The grange is composed of all concerned In thp farming industry and has a membership of over 200.000. with representatives in everv countv. The affiliation that exists among the members of the State Grange is powerful. Anything that smacks of Injury to the farmer and breeder of anv kind is Immediately brought before the board and measures .taken to intercept anything that is not beneficial to the members or the state. The farmers can see by the elimination of the thoroughbred a falling market for their best hay and grain, as well as other products.
